The awards are open to those working for firms operating in the UK’s pensions industry as well as those either working for or governing individual occupational pension schemes.

Nominees can be involved in roles including, but not limited to, pensions management, trusteeship, actuarial, pensions and investment consulting; legal advice; investment management; fiduciary management; scheme administration; member communications. Nominations can also be made for those involved other roles, such as sales and marketing, at organisations whose primary business or role is related to occupational pensions.

There is no limit on the number of nominations or categories.

Once nominations have been received, the nominee will be contacted and forwarded a list of questions that they will be required to complete in order to progress to the first round of judging.

A shortlist will then be created from which an expert panel of judges will decide the winners in each category. Judges will take into account:

- achievements in the workplace/role

- challenges faced

- evidence of contributions to support and inspire those beginning their career in pensions

- overall quality of submissions

The deadline for nominations is: 15 May 2024

Notes:

Only entries via the nomination system will be considered. It is up to the nominators to ensure contact details of those being nominated are correct. The panel reserves the right to close a category should the quality of entrants be deemed too low to judge; remove an entry if in the opinion of the judges the criteria has not been followed; or suggest another more appropriate category for entrants. The panel will take into account nominee responses as well as third party research such as websites and social media. The panel reserves the right to use public voting where appropriate. The decision of the chairperson is final. 

Rising Star of the Year

This category will recognise the individual, aged 40 or under on 31 March 2024 who has made the biggest difference to pensions over the past year.

The winner will not only be able to demonstrate excellence in their own field of pensions expertise – but also show commitment to the industry as a whole.

Trainee of the Year

This category reflects the continued importance of training in the pensions industry.

The category is open to all individuals who are currently undertaking, or have just completed, a training scheme or programme of training within the pensions industry. It is not specific to any particular role – and is open to those involved in roles such as pensions management, trusteeship, consulting; legal advice, investment management and scheme administration.

Nominees in this category must have started their training at least six months ago (on or before 30 September 2023). If they have finished training, they must have completed it no more than 12 months ago (31 March 2023).

The individual should provide evidence of how they have contributed to the success of their business or scheme, highlighting any specific projects they have undertaken or successes they have achieved.

They should also describe how they have developed their skills since starting their role.

Those nominating individuals in this category are encouraged to attest to why the nominee would make an inspiring leader in pension advice.

Trustee of the Year

This accolade aims to recognise the rising stars of pension trusteeship and is open to both professional (independent) and lay trustees aged under 40 on 31 March 2024.

This award will serve as inspiration for other young people to consider a role as a pension scheme trustee.

Nominees for this category should share their successes as a scheme trustee – detailing how they got involved in their role and what they have achieved during their time in post.

Actuary / Consultant of the Year

This category is open to those aged 40 or under as at 31 March 2024 and is for those who have completed their actuarial or consulting training and are now into the next stage of their career.

Nominees for this category should provide evidence of their successes – detailing how they have ‘gone the extra mile’ in their role, cite specific successes and achievements they have had over the 12 months to 31 March 2024; and demonstrate their qualities as a future leader in pensions advice.

They should also highlight how they have overcome challenges in their career and how they are contributing to the broader pensions industry.

Actuarial / Advisory Trainee of the Year

This category reflects the continued importance of training schemes in the pensions industry.

The category is open to all individuals who are currently undertaking, or have just completed, a training scheme to become a fully qualified actuary or consultant.

Nominees in this category must have started their training at least six months ago (on or before 30 September 2023). If they have finished training, they must have completed it no more than 12 months ago (31 March 2023).

The individual should provide evidence of how they have contributed to the success of their business, highlighting any specific projects they have undertaken or successes they have achieved.

They should also describe how they have developed their skills since embarking on their firm’s training scheme.

Those nominating individuals in this category are encouraged to attest to why the nominee would make an inspiring leader in pension advice.

Administrator of the Year

This category is open to those aged 40 or under as at 31 March 2024 and is for those who have completed their initial qualifications in pension scheme administration and have taken the next step in their career, either as part of an in-house team or at a third-party pensions administration firm.

Nominees for this category should provide evidence of their successes – detailing how they have ‘gone the extra mile’ in their role, cite specific successes and achievements they have had over the 12 months to 31 March 2024; and demonstrate their qualities as a future leader in pensions advice.

They should also highlight how they have overcome challenges in their career and how they are contributing to the pensions industry more broadly.

Lawyer of the Year 

This category is open to those aged 40 or under as at 31 March 2024 and is for those who have completed their legal training and are now into the next stage of their career.

Nominees for this category should provide evidence of their successes – detailing how they have ‘gone the extra mile’ in their role, cite specific successes and achievements they have had over the 12 months to 31 March 2024; and demonstrate their qualities as a future leader in pensions advice.

They should also highlight how they have overcome challenges in their career and how they are contributing to the broader pensions industry.

Investment Manager of the Year

This category is open to those aged 40 or under as at 31 March 2024 and is for those who have completed their initial qualifications in investment management and have taken the next step in their career as an analysts, allocators or portfolio managers, either at third-party asset management firms or within a pension scheme’s in-house asset management operations.

Nominees for this category should provide evidence of their successes – detailing how they have ‘gone the extra mile’ in their role, cite specific successes and achievements they have had over the 12 months to 31 March 2024; and demonstrate their qualities as a future leader in pensions advice.

They should also highlight how they have overcome challenges in their career and how they are contributing to the pensions industry more broadly.

Investment Trainee of the Year 

This category reflects the continued importance of training schemes in the pensions investments industry.

The category is open to all individuals who are currently undertaking, or have just completed, a training scheme for an investment position within an asset management or consulting firm.

Nominees in this category must have started their training at least six months ago (on or before 30 September 2023). If they have finished training, they must have completed it no more than 12 months ago (31 March 2023).

The individual should provide evidence of how they have contributed to the success of their business, highlighting any specific projects they have undertaken or successes they have achieved.

They should also describe how they have developed their skills since embarking on their firm’s training scheme.

Those nominating individuals in this category are encouraged to attest to why the nominee would make an inspiring leader in investment management/consulting.

Excellence in Customer Service and Communication Award

This category is open to individuals who have helped revolutionise the communications and member experience within pension schemes – either as a trustee, scheme administrator, pension manager or adviser.

The individual should be able to demonstrate how they have put the member at the heart of what they have done and help introduce new solutions to member challenges.

Judges will be especially looking for candidates who can prove they really understand what top-quality member service and communications looks like – and can provide evidence of how what they have done has made a tangible difference to members.

This category is open to those aged 40 or under as at 31 March 2024.

Mentor of the Year

Open to individuals in the pensions sector who have supported and encouraged the rising stars of tomorrow through mentoring, training or other initiatives.

Team of the Year

This category is open to a team of rising stars who are able to demonstrate how they have collectively gone the extra mile to help clients or scheme members; used their skills to complete a particularly challenging or stretching project; or have otherwise had successes over the year to 31 March 2024.

Teams being nominated for this category should be predominantly made up of ‘rising stars’ – those aged 40 or under as at 31 March 2024.

*** ORGANISATIONAL AWARD *** Award for Supporting Development

This category reflects the continued importance of ongoing training and development in the pensions industry and aims to recognise the firm or scheme that best supports and develops its staff, especially those ‘rising stars’ aged 40 or under.

The category is open to pension schemes as well as those firms providing advice and services to pension schemes.

Judges will look for evidence of how schemes and firms have supported and facilitated initiatives to help develop and foster new talent in the industry, how their training and development goes ‘above and beyond’ what is offered by their peers and look at the broader support and assistance provided to individuals to help them reach the next stage of their career.

*** ORGANISATIONAL AWARD *** Training Scheme of the Year

This category reflects the continued importance of training schemes in the pensions industry and aims to recognise the firm or scheme that offers the best training scheme in pensions.

The category is open to pension schemes as well as those firms providing advice and services to pension schemes.

Judges will be looking for evidence of the quality of a firm’s training scheme, how it helps to develop trainees, how it goes ‘above and beyond’ the standards laid down by any professional body, and the support the businesses provide to its trainees more broadly.

It should particularly focus on how this training scheme has been improved over the 12 months to 31 March 2024.

Notes:
Only entries via the nomination system will be considered. It is up to the nominators to ensure contact details of those being nominated are correct. The panel reserves the right to close a category should the quality of entrants be deemed too low to judge; remove an entry if in the opinion of the judges the criteria has not been followed; or suggest another more appropriate category for entrants. The panel will take into account nominee responses as well as third-party research such as websites and social media. The panel reserves the right to use public voting where appropriate. The decision of the chairperson is final.